Is Kickstarter a game changer for Indie Films?

[xbuilder]

I've been curious every since I started my Kickstarter for my film
(you can see it here)
do you think as far as fiance goes is Kickstarter a game changer?

Let me know what you think.

 

[rayw]

Nope.

Only a tool, like a hammer.
If you don't know what you're doing, well...
And even if you do, (sigh) your odds are better.

Five bucks says weeks and months of chumming the waters should have been actively engaged BEFORE any kickstarter/indiegogo/crowdsourcing effort was initiated.

GL

 

[Modern Day Myth Prod. LLC]

Nope!

I had to use other means to finance my film when Kickstarter failed.

 

[welsh_gambit]

I think as with anything in life, you get what you put in. If you simply throw togather something then you wont get much interest. However if you work hard and put effort in before hand then it can be a pretty good tool. The key I'm seeing with crowdfunding is if you want it to succeed then you need to get the campaign exposure...promote, promote, promote and see what happens. I thought about setting up a indiegogo campaign for my tv show but decided against because I simply didn't have the time or material available to make a good pitch work and promote it, before, during and after the campaign ended.

Other avenues you can try while you campaign is going on is setting up a table or stall at a local shopping mall selling mugs, t-shirts, keyrings, posters anything with your movie/show's logo on. Talk to people walking past, drum up interest, anyone who buys something tell them the thing you want to make.

I'm starting to go WAY off topic with this but In short, what Ray said. crowdfunding itself is but one tool which can help but you need more then one tool to build a house.

 

[Zensteve]

You ain't trickin' me into clickin' your link.

 

[NickClapper]

You ain't trickin' me into clickin' your link.

Shameful masked promotion aside- Ray says it well. Kickstarter is an important tool but it's all about the amount of time and effort you put in. There are so many half-arsed campaigners who then shout 'Kickstarter doesn't work!!!' when really it's their fault it didn't happen for them.

 

[josh-ozirigpro]

The other downside is the continued polarisation when it comes to crowdfunding.
As of right now, kickstarter is the most well known platform for this kind of stuff.
Unfortunately it's also only open to US citizens, essentially shutting out young guns like myself who were unlucky enough to be born upside down on the other side of the globe.

Of course donating is open, I meant the actual submitting of pitches

 

[DeJager]

I agree with the rest of the IT'ers. It's a tool but you need to put in the extra mile to utilize its effectiveness.

 

[rayw]

The other downside is the continued polarisation when it comes to crowdfunding.
As of right now, kickstarter is the most well known platform for this kind of stuff.
Unfortunately it's also only open to US citizens, essentially shutting out young guns like myself who were unlucky enough to be born upside down on the other side of the globe.

Of course donating is open, I meant the actual submitting of pitches

You know, a young enterprising soul such as yourself could begin a KoalaStarter for those denied, unless there's some legal Aussie road stop in the way.

Hmmm...

 

[Modern Day Myth Prod. LLC]

As someone who succeed 3 times in a row recommended, hire a professional to write your pitch. That can require some big bucks. For people with little or no money, it is not a way to go.

You can borrow money from family and friends. But, they most likely will want their money back.

Have a backup plan if it fails.

Good luck.

 

[directorik]

An excellent conversation. A shameless agenda to get people to
click on a Kickstarter page.

I say yes. As far as finance goes, Kickstarter is a game changer.
A producer now has the means to reach more people than before.
MDM says “Nope!” because he had to use other means. Yet he
knows someone who succeeded three times. So what is it? He
had the means but failed - others succeeded.

Ray is correct; Kickstarter is a tool. If a producer does not use
the tool well, they fail - Kickstarter does not fail. A camera and
lights are tools; if a director cannot use them well they will make
a movie people do not want to see. We do not then come to the
conclusion that the camera and lights do not work.

Used properly, Kickstarter can change the "game" allowing a
producer to find more people who will finance your movie. I suggest
that the OP is using it incorrectly and will not get people they do
not know to donate. No offense intended to you, “xbuilder” if you
ever return to read these replies. I think this method is a bit insulting.

 

[Gonzo_Entertainment]

Yep, I feel slight amounts of guilt over the fact I, who visit this forum almost daily and comment regularly (for a couple of years now), will likely annoy you guys with nudges about my kickstarter (launching this Thursday! heh...) To just drop into a forum and semi-spam it with your kickstarter usually isn't viewed very kindly.

 

[directorik]

Very, very different, Gonzo. An active member of a forum should feel
proud to ask people to look at their pitch.

 

[Gonzo_Entertainment]

Very, very different, Gonzo. An active member of a forum should feel
proud to ask people to look at their pitch.

Thanks Rik, and I know, just my nature to be slightly embarrassed about self promotion. It's a huge hindrance to me in this business as it was in my music career.

 

[rayw]

Very, very different, Gonzo. An active member of a forum should feel
proud to ask people to look at their pitch.

+1

Agreed.

Maybe it's part of my work ethic, but I firmly believe those that contribute the most should be entitled to benefit the most from their contributions.

Thanks Rik, and I know, just my nature to be slightly embarrassed about self promotion. It's a huge hindrance to me in this business as it was in my music career.

Any time you or any of the regular constructive contributors to the IT forum want to show us your dog and pony show don't hesitate for a moment.
This is a good community here.
Lotsa perspectives from those with industry experience, those just starting out, and those that might not make films but certainly appreciate good ones (and can spot stinkers a mile out).

These characters that pop in here, drop their poop, do a little dance asking $5,000 for equipment, then pop out never to be heard from again AIN'T EVEN the same thing.

 

[JoshL]

Thanks Rik, and I know, just my nature to be slightly embarrassed about self promotion. It's a huge hindrance to me in this business as it was in my music career.

Man, I'm right there with you. "Hey, listen to my music! ...I mean, if you have time....or if you want to...or if you don't have anything better to do....nevermind"

But that sort of shameless self-promoting attitude is needed if you want to make something like kickstarter work for you. The problem is people who do drive-bys like this don't seem to realize that most people here are creators, not necessarily investors. Yes, lots of people here do fund projects when they can, but lots of people here are looking for funding too. It's a forum of peers, not one's demographic.

 

[rayw]

But that sort of shameless self-promoting attitude is needed if you want to make something like kickstarter work for you.

Yyyyyep.
Pretty much gotta make a marketing fool of yourself, a role I'm very loathe to play.
I have not a bone of William Shatner's pomposity in me.

But I need to cultivate such to ever be competitive in this biz.

 

[Gonzo_Entertainment]

I have a competent technocrat producer (my finance'). I sometimes wish I had one less good at spreadsheets and better at being a carnival barker. Both styles have advantages.